Mine-switch-operating mechanism



May 27, 1924. 1,4952% H. W. WHITE ET AL MINE SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 9, 1924 aftozmzaa Patented ay 27, 1924.

SATES PATEN HARRY v'W'. \VI-IITE AND W'ILLIAlVl'. J. GALBRAITH, OF STONINGTON, ILLINOIS.

MINE-SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 9, 1924. Serial No. 691,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY W, lVHI'rE and WILLIAM J. Gannimrrrnjcitizens of the United States of America, and residents, of Stouington. in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin .Mine-Switch- Operating Mechanism, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch throwing devices, and particularly to distance manually operated devices for use in coal mines.

It is an object of this invention to produce a switch, associated with the rails of a track in coal mines, whereby a trip rider may operate a lever or handle for throwing the switch at a distant pointin order that the momentum of the car may be maintained while approaching the switch; it being possible by the use of this device for the rider to manipulate ahandle in order that the switch may be set for guiding him to a siding, or to the main track, according to the direction of travel desired.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a device of the character indicated which can be readily installed and which comprises comparatively few inexpensive parts of durable construction.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a View in elevation of a fragment of a track showing a device embodying the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective View of a fragment of the switch operating mecha nism; and

Figure 4 illustrates a detail perspective view of one of the links.

In carrying the invention into practice, it is used in connection with rails such as 5 and 6 of a main track and the switch elements 8 and 9 associated therewith and with the siding or branch track.

The switch elements, in the present embodiment of the invention, are connectcdtogetherby a thrust rod 10 that extends to a switch stand 11 having a lever 12,.to which the said thrust rod is connected in order that when the lever 12 oscillates, the thrust rod is moved and its motionis communicated to .the switch elements 8 and 9. The lever. .12 has a link 13 connected to it, the said link being pivotally connected to an arm 14 secured on a rotary post or shaft 15 by a fastening 16 such as a set screw or binding bolt.

Near the upper end of the shaft 15, another arm 17 is secured to it by a fastening 18 such as a set screw, and the said arm 17 appear, it serves to rotate the shaft 15 and through the connections heretofore described; the switch elements will be thrown.

As a means for reciprocating the rod 20, a bifurcated handle 22 is oscillatablysuspended from a support 23, the said handle being mounted on a pivot 24 anchored to the support. The furcations of the handle have longitudinal slots such as 25 to receive a pin 26 that is attached to or projects from the sides of the rod and therefore, the motion of each handle is communicated to the rod 20. The handles, in the present embodiment of the invention, are of identical construction and a description of one will suffice for an understanding of their construction.

From an inspection of the drawing and from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when a trip rider approaches the switch and is within reach of a handle 22, he may operate the handle to throw the switch, according to the direction of intended travel, and when he has passed the switch, he may operate the other handle to.

restore the switch elements to their former position or he may leave them as they were set by the first operation, that being a matter of convenience for himself or succeeding trip riders.

'We claim:

1. In a mine switch operating mechanism, a track having switch elements, a thrust rod extending transversely of the track to which the said switch elements are connected, a

lever to which the thrust rod is connected, a link connected to said lever, an arm pivotally connected to the said link, an upstanding shaft to which the arm is secured, an arm secured to the said shaft and extending at an angle to the first mentioned arm, a rod extending longitudinally of the track to which the second mentioned arm is connected, a handle oscillatably suspended on each side of the switch, and means for communicating the motion of the handles to the said rod.

2. In a mine switch operating mechanism, a track having switch elements, a thrust rod extending transversely of the track to which the said switch elements are connected, a lever to which the thrust rod is connected,

a link connected to said lever, an arm pivotally connected to the said link, an upstanding shaft to which the arm is secured, an arm secured to the said shaft and extending at an angle to the first mentioned arm, a rod extending longitudinally of the track to which the second mentioned arm is connected, a bifurcated handle the i'urczn tions of which have longitudinally extending slots, means for suspending a handle on each side of the switch, means extending from the rod into the slots of the turcations, and means for oscillatably suspending each handle.

HARRY WV. lVHITE. lVILLIAM J. GALBRAITH. 

